Updated : 21/08/2001

A Near Bankrupt!
By Dr Harcharan Singh Bhullar

I was the eldest child in a family of four. My father was the sole breadwinner. The income of a government clerk was hardly enough to meet the needs of the family and matters were made worse by my mother who thought that she could contribute in some measure to the family's financial needs if she was able to make some extra money at the gambling tables! Needless to say this was hardly the case, and I can still remember the times when tempers flared because of the lack of finances in the home. So even as a child, I vowed that when I grew up I was going to make lots of money because I thought the lack of it had been the cause of unhappiness in the family.

I went to university and graduated as a medical doctor in 1970, completed the necessary time for housemanship and then served as a medical officer in the government service. With no doubt in my mind, I decided to go into private medical practice and make money (as at that time private practice was a lucrative business). Initially, I joined a private practice in Malacca later I decided to venture out on my own. I wanted to make it big and ventured to open the first 24 hour clinic in Malacca. This paid off and very soon I was able to buy myself prestigious cars, join the elite clubs in Malacca and move with the top brass of Malacca society in golfing as well as drinking and gambling circles. 

I enjoyed the respect and admiration of many and being a person who was generous and easy to get on with, very soon had more than my fair share of lady friends. Needless to say, my wife Evelyn who had for ten years before our marriage been my childhood sweetheart, took objection to the more than casual interest that I paid to some of these ladies. The more she quarreled with me the more I found comfort in their company.

This went on for years. I made promises to change but never did, and at one stage Evelyn seriously considered divorcing me. Being the macho man that I was, I told her that she could leave any time she wanted to but she could not take Kelvin (then 2 ½ years old) with her. Thank God the divorce did not materialise as God used a mother's love for her child to keep the semblance of the marriage going. 

Then in 1980, after having gone through two miscarriages in two consecutive years, Evelyn, who had been a 4th generation Christian in her family who was by then totally back-slidden in her faith, came into a renewed walk with the Lord Jesus Christ. It changed her life but that didn't seem to do much for mine. 

Inspite of all the money that I had and the prestige that goes with position and wealth, life seemed empty and meaningless. I was experiencing first-hand what King Solomon said in the Book of Ecclesiastes "…. everything is meaningless, a chasing after the wind." I was very sure that money would solve all my problems and give me happiness but when I had the money, happiness seemed to shun me. Was there anything else in the prescription for happiness which was not known to me that I so badly wanted ?

It was with this frame of mind that one Sunday in November 1981, I gave in to Evelyn's persuasions and went with her to Kuala Lumpur to worship in a church that used a hotel for its Sunday service. I am not really sure why I agreed and to travel a hundred miles to worship when I would normally object to a ten minute ride to the church that Evelyn fellowshipped in Malacca as being too burdensome for me! 

But I thank God that in His mercy He reached out and touched me that Sunday morning. I do not remember what the preacher said or what was being sung but what struck me most was the fact that the congregation there, old or young, rich or poor, all seemed to have that JOY and HAPPINESS that I was seeking for all these years. I told God that whatever they had, I wanted it too …. “Blessed are the poor in spirit for they shall see God!” This promise became mine about a week later, when I responded to the altar call and accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour at one of the FGBMF meetings in Malacca.

Knowing that God forgave me for all the awful sins that I had committed brought unspeakable joy. The burden and guilt of sin was lifted from me. In the days and months thereafter, God gave me a hunger for His Word and my joy grew as I realised that I am loved by God and that He has a good plan for my life. The assurance in knowing that I will spend eternity with God in heaven when I leave this earthly life is far better than any material thing that money can buy.

As I allowed God's Word to change me, I began to thank God and appreciate Evelyn for having stood by me and being such a good and blessed wife to me all these years. I must say Kevin, our son, who has been such a blessing to us is also a wonderful gift from God. I began to look at my profession as a medical doctor not just as a means to earn a living, but as an opportunity for me to be a channel of blessing for God's love as I care and comfort the sick. 

The process of transformation of the old self with the sinful nature has been a slow and painful process. I am far from being the man that God has purposed for me to be and yet I say this with all humility: The friends who knew me before I came into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ find it hard to believe the changed person that I am today in Christ. Those who knew me only after my conversion find it hard to believe the terrible person I was before knowing Christ. Truly, “if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation, old things are passed away; behold all things have become new.” I thank God for the restoration of our marriage and for the privilege of seeing our son grow in the Lord Jesus Christ.

After working many years in both the University Hospital and a group medical practice, I decided to set up my own private medical clinic in Kuala Lumpur. It was a flourishing practice and in a short time, I was able to own a house in a posh area and drive around in a luxurious car, both of which were an indication of my acquired status and wealth in society.

In 1988, for the sake of my children’s education my wife and I together with the whole family decided to migrate to Australia. Malaysia was just coming out of an economic recession then, while Australia was experiencing a big boom.

We chose Perth and the children settled down quickly to their new lives. However, I had hard time in settling down as I could not practice medicine there and there were no other worthwhile activities to help me pass my time.

Soon the prospect of a recession loomed over Australia. I decided to invest in some business in order to cushion the effect of the imminent economic downturn. It was in these circumstances that a particular business venture attracted my interest. After all, someone known to me introduced the entire venture and he appeared trustworthy. The business investment did not require my full attention and time. It would therefore not tie me down or restrict my mobility. So I took on the business as an investment as I thought there were limited downside risks. 

How wrong I was! I had taken on more risk than I could possibly handle. By 1991, I lost everything …. my house, cars and literally everything to the ill-fated venture. The situation looked hopeless; yet it was not all! The final blow came in the form of a bank debt equivalent of one million ringgit, which the Australian bank was now pursuing against me. The prospect of bankruptcy now loomed heavily over me.

As I went through all this agony and anxiety, I started to think about the god whom I had prayed to all these years. I felt that since I was so blessed and had everything I needed, I must have appeased my god. Hence, the turn of events must be ‘fated’ and had to happen. That same perception seemed to be in the minds of many people who came to console me, saying my misfortune was fated and such a hardship had taken because of the misdeeds in my previous life.

I decided to return to Malaysia to start life anew and to find the means to repay the debt. It was not going to be easy as all the children and my wife had to be left behind in Perth.

Back in Malaysia, I set up a private medical practice again, this time in Ipoh. The clinic was located on the ground floor of a shophouse and I took residence upstairs. Initially, there were few patients and I had ample time to ponder over my past. So I started to think about God, about a God who gives and takes away blessings. I kept on asking why, why, why? I had not done anything to deserve this treatment. How could I suddenly change from being a man of wealth and position to a near bankrupt! My daily reflection gave me no rest or peace. I asked God what wrong I had done or what sin I had committed that I had been made to suffer these consequences. In anger and also hunger for the truth, I started to seek God. Little did I know that even before I began my search, the Sovereign God had already been at work in my life!

It was during this period in January 1992 that two individuals from the Gideons International came to my clinic one day. After a brief conversation with me, they left behind four Bibles in the waiting room of the clinic.

Having covered all the medical journals and literature there was to read, I started flicking through the Bible. Initially, there was nothing much to interest me and further I did not understand much of what I read. I became confused and I began to pray to the One who created us for I had heard very often that there was only one God.

A few days later, as I was getting up one morning I heard a clear voice. It came distinctly from above and said, “Fear not, my child. My light is upon you.” Quickly I wrote down what I heard and hurriedly brushed my teeth and got ready to go downstairs to work. I saw a few patients and then went upstairs again to continue with my search. While excited and pleased that my prayer had received a divine response, I was also more confused. I started to pray again to this Creator God.

Later I heard that familiar voice and it prompted me to read the Book of John, chapter 9. The spiritual meaning that came through reading that text was that I had been born blind! I felt challenged to respond to this declaration. So I prayed that God will show me the truth. God responded to say, “Read the Bible and I will talk to you and explain to you the Scripture.” For the next five months I read the Bible all on my own. I believe that the Holy Spirit was with me and I found answers to the questions I had. He also gave me a new insight and understanding of the Living God.

So started this very unique relationship between the Lord and myself. I realized that Jesus died and He rose again on the third day and that He is alive today. Weeks later, a Christian friend led me to say a sinner’s prayer, accepting Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour. I gave my life wholly to Him alone. Later church leaders came to pray for me and I received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. I started to attend Sunday church service regularly. Late 1992, I was water-baptised. It was a great step that I took in accepting Jesus Christ and becoming a Christian. Around the same time, my wife and many months later my six daughters in Perth came to accept Jesus as their personal Saviour. 

The Australian bank in the meantime had placed a statement in the local newspaper in Malaysia, stating their intention to sue the business venture, my wife and me for the debt. My immediate reaction was how to repay the debt and clear our names. 

I agonized over the matter but I kept it in my heart and did not want to go to God with my problem. Of course, He knew about it but I felt I should not trouble Him. I did not want anybody to think that I came to believe in Jesus because of my debt problem. I truly believed in Him with no ulterior motive. I felt it was not fair to burden Him. I thought I ought to sort out the mess myself.

Meanwhile I consulted my lawyer and he studied the whole case and said there was no hope. He could only advised two forms of action: either pay up or declare myself a bankrupt. 

Everything seemed so bleak. There was fear in me and the burden was too heavy to bear. I could not sleep at night. I wanted to push the debt problem aside. Daily I prayed that I would be changed and become more Christ-like. Seeking this was more important than the problem I faced. It never occurred to me to bring this heavy load and place it before my Sovereign Lord and Saviour.

One day while reading the Bible, I came across Matthew 11:28: ”Come to Me all you who labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” I felt convinced that God was with me. He was asking me to come and lay my heavy laden on Him. I quickly looked for and took hold of the newspaper cutting on the debt. In faith, I placed my hand on it and prayed. Somehow I felt convinced that I would not be made a bankrupt unless God allowed it.

When the case finally came up for hearing, it got postponed! It happened again the second time. I did not understand the reasons for the postponement or the delay.

During this same period when I was facing this debt, someone returned a sum of thirty thousand ringgit that he owed me. But the cheque bounced and I could not have the money that I so desperately needed. So in anger, I instructed my lawyer to pursue the matter legally with this person. I wanted to choke him the way I was being choked. 

One day, I read the parable of the unmerciful servant (Matthew 18:32-33) and I knew straightaway I was not doing the right thing. I asked for God’s forgiveness and started to make amends for the situation. I wrote a short note to that person and returned all the evidence that I had against him, including the returned cheque. I stated that I forgave him and hoped that he too would seek forgiveness from the Living God.

Two weeks alter, I received a phone call from my lawyer. The Australian bank was willing to offer a settlement by reducing the debt from one million to one hundred and fifty thousand ringgit only! While excited, I was also in a dilemma. I had to raise this amount of money immediately if I accepted this settlement. To raise this amount meant that I would have to borrow and then I would be in debt again. Without the available funds I told the lawyer I could not take up the offer so I opted not to accept the settlement. 

A few days later, the Australian bank replied stating their willingness to consider any form of settlement I could offer. I was told to offer any amount that I could raise for their consideration. I had nothing to offer as the thirty thousand ringgit was never recovered. Anyway I replied to them, requesting for a statement to show how much the business venture and I actually owed them. There was silence for a month.

Weeks later I received a registered letter from my lawyer. I could not believe my eyes. The letter said that the Australian bank was withdrawing the case against me personally! I was overjoyed; my relief was beyond description. I was told to settle only the lawyer’s fees, which amounted to ten thousand ringgit. We finally negotiated for five! What a Mighty God we serve!